Method of promoting efficient water drinking by animals

ABSTRACT

A method of promoting efficient water drinking by animals uses any one of a number of container embodiments. A first embodiment of container contemplates five sub-chambers separated from one another by parallel partitions, with each partition having a small weep hole near its bottom to equalize water level in each sub-chamber. Each sub-chamber has an elongated length dimension and a width that is relatively narrow and designed to approximate the width of an animal&#39;s tongue. When an animal is drinking water from one of the sub-chambers of this embodiment, as the tongue is lapping, the sides of the tongue are close to the inner walls of the sub-chamber, thereby precluding some of the water resting on the tongue from falling off the tongue as the water is lifted into the animal&#39;s mouth. In this way, the efficiency of drinking using the lapping technique is enhanced. In a further embodiment, a second sub-chamber provides a reservoir for replenishing the first sub-chamber as it drains down through a small weep hole near the bottom of a common wall between the sub-chambers. The second sub-chamber may be designed to receive an inverted bottle filled with water so that continuous replenishment of the drinking sub-chamber through a weep hole connecting the supply sub-chamber may be accomplished.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This application is a Divisional of application Ser. No. 11/715,947,filed Mar. 9, 2007.

The present invention relates to a method of promoting efficient waterdrinking by animals. Animals use their tongues to drink water. They diptheir tongue into a container of water with the end of the tongue curvedbackward and then lift the tongue upwardly bringing a quantity of waterinto their mouth. This is an extremely inefficient way to convey waterinto their mouth. In particular, the portion of the tongue that is bentbackward is relatively flat allowing the water to spill off the sides ofthat portion of the tongue as the tongue is lifted up with a quantity ofwater resting thereon. In a book titled “Canine Behavior,” Dr. BonnieBeaver, President of the American Veterinary Medical Association, saysthe following:

-   “The tongue is curled backward and serves as a ladle to lift the    water into the mouth. Because the curl is almost flat across instead    of cup-shaped, much of the water spills out from the sides before    the dog can get it into the mouth. About half is lost.”

As explained by Stan Coren, Professor of Psychology at the University ofBritish Columbia and author of the book “How Dogs Think”:

-   “A dog's tongue curls down and back in a sort of fishhook shape and    he literally pulls the water up and it falls into the floor of his    mouth. How quickly a dog can drink depends upon the size of its    tongue.”

Larger animals have larger tongues and are able to lift a greaterquantity of water per lap. Typically, the larger the animal, the widerthe tongue. Given tongues of equal lengths, a wider tongue can lift alarger quantity of water per lap.

Drinking bowls and containers for animals that are currently made aremainly large containers filled with water without any thought todesigning their shape in a way to enhance the efficiency of drinking.The animal, such as a dog, cat, other pet or other animal, merely lapsthe water from the bowl or container and keeps lapping until it hasreceived its fill. If the configuration of a container of water weredesigned to enhance efficiency of drinking, such a container would bepleasing to an animal.

U.S. Pat. No. D302,755 to Zaliti and U.S. Pat. No. D335,940 to McGrathet al. teach pet feeding dishes having container portions that areelongated and relatively narrow. However, these patents do notcontemplate the problem of the inefficiency of lapping of water nor dothey propose a solution.

U.S. Pat. No. D288,650 to Mint; similarly, teaches a plurality ofcompartments of general utility, but fails to contemplate either theproblem or the solution contemplated herein.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,323,733 to Youngs-McVicker teaches a bird feeder havinga partition therein for reducing feed scattered by birds. In theYoungs-McVicker device, the partition includes two extremely largeopenings interconnecting adjacent chambers 38 and 40. The actualchambers are not extremely narrow nor does Youngs-McVicker teach orcontemplate any solution to the problem of the inefficiency of lappingby an animal to drink water.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method of promoting efficient waterdrinking by animals, based on a container disclosed in severalembodiments. The present invention includes the following interrelatedobjects, aspects and features:

(1) In a first aspect in practicing the method, any one of a number ofembodiments of container is provided. A first embodiment of containercontemplates a generally rectangular cubic container including fivesub-chambers generally separated from one another by parallelpartitions, with each partition having a small weep hole near itsbottom. The weep holes are designed to facilitate equalization of waterlevel in each sub-chamber. Each sub-chamber has an elongated lengthdimension and a width that is relatively narrow and designed toapproximate the width of an animal's tongue. When an animal is drinkingwater from one of the sub-chambers of this embodiment, as the tongue islapping, the sides of the tongue are close to the inner walls of thesub-chamber, thereby precluding some of the water resting on the tonguefrom falling off the tongue as the water is lifted into the animal'smouth. In this way, the efficiency of drinking using the lappingtechnique is enhanced.

(2) The container may be made with sub-chambers having differing widthsto accommodate to animals of different sizes and different tonguewidths. In one embodiment, a single container can include sub-chambershaving a variety of respective widths so that animals of different sizescan use the same container drinking from differing sub-chambers.

(3) In a further embodiment, if desired, the upper terminations of thewalls of each sub-chamber can curve toward one another to enhanceretention of water on the tongue of an animal drinking therefrom.

(4) In a further embodiment, the inventive container can include a firstnarrow elongated sub-chamber from which the animal may drink and asecond sub-chamber of the same or different size configuration and/orvolume, and which is merely there to comprise a reservoir replenishingthe first sub-chamber as it drains down through a small weep hole nearthe bottom of a common wall between the sub-chambers.

(5) In a further embodiment, the inventive container may comprise asingle narrow elongated sub-chamber connected via a weep hole with asecond sub-chamber designed to receive an inverted bottle filled withwater so that continuous replenishment of the drinking sub-chamberthrough a weep hole connecting the supply sub-chamber may beaccomplished. Products using this inverted bottle technique are wellknown generally, for example, one sold under the trademark LE BISTRO®owned by the Microban Products Company.

Accordingly, it is a first object of the present invention to provide amethod of promoting efficient water drinking by animals.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a methodemploying a device in which the side walls of a drinking sub-chamber aremade close enough together so that they approximate the width of ananimal's tongue to enhance drinking efficiency.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide such amethod in which sub-chambers of differing widths are provided in acontainer for different animals.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide such amethod in which a plurality of sub-chambers of equal widths areprovided.

It is a yet further object of the present invention to provide such amethod in which a drinking sub-chamber is provided along with a supplysub-chamber to replenish water to the drinking sub-chamber via a smallweep hole.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide such amethod in which a supply reservoir comprises an inverted bottle filledwith water.

These and other objects, aspects and features of the present inventionwill be better understood from the following detailed description of thepreferred embodiments when read in conjunction with the appended drawingfigures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a top view of a first embodiment of a container used topractice the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a front view of the first embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 shows a side view of the first embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5 shows a bottom view of the first embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the first embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 7 shows a schematic representation of two adjacent sub-chamberwalls and an animal's tongue therebetween.

FIG. 8 shows an alternative construction of the side walls of asub-chamber.

FIG. 9 shows a top view of an alternative construction of a container.

FIG. 10 shows a top view of a further embodiment of a container.

FIG. 11 shows a top view of a still further embodiment of a container.

FIG. 12 shows a cross-sectional view along the line 12-12 of FIG. 11.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference is first made to FIGS. 1-6 for a description of the firstembodiment of the present invention used to practice the inventivemethod which is generally designated by the reference numeral 10. Asseen in FIG. 1, the device includes a peripheral wall 11 and internalwalls 13, 15, 17 and 19 dividing the device 10 into five sub-chambers21, 23, 25, 27 and 29. Adjacent sub-chambers are interconnected byrespective weep holes 31 which serve to equalize the water level in allof the sub-chambers. Each of the sub-chambers preferably has a flatbottom that is slightly below the location of the weep holes 31 as bestseen in FIG. 2.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show portions of the peripheral wall 11 of the container10, while FIG. 5 shows the bottom 12 of the container.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-6, water is filled into the chambers 21,23, 25, 27 and 29. The level of water in these chambers or sub-chambersis equalized by virtue of the weep holes 31 best seen in FIG. 2. Thus,if an animal is drinking from the sub-chamber 21, water from theadjacent sub-chamber 23 replenishes the sub-chamber 21 via the weep hole31 therebetween, while the other weep holes 31 further facilitate thewater level equalization process.

FIG. 7 shows two of the walls 21 and 23 from the embodiment of FIGS. 1-6shown having inner walls 22 and 24 spaced apart by a distance “a.” Ananimal tongue 1 is schematically shown having a vertically descendingportion 3 and a horizontal portion 5 that is curved with respect to thevertical portion 3 to facilitate lapping of water from a sub-chamber.The spacings between side edges of the portion 5 of the tongue 1 aredesignated by “b.” The width of the portion 5 of the tongue 1 is shownby the reference letter “c.”

In one example, the typical width of the tongue of a miniature dachshundis in the range of ¾ of an inch to 1 inch. This is the dimension “c” inFIG. 7. The smaller the dimension “b,” the closer the side edges of theportion 5 of the tongue 1 will come to the inner walls 22, 24 when theanimal is drinking. Thus, in the example of a miniature dachshund havinga tongue with a width of 1 inch, making the dimension “a” 1 inch wouldmean that when the animal is drinking, the side edges of the portion 5of the tongue are adjacent the surfaces 22 and 24, thereby enhancingefficiency of drinking. In that example, the dimension “b” would bezero.

In a further alternative, with reference to FIG. 8, the walls 21′ and23′ may have upper terminations 26 and 28, respectively, that curvetoward one another to enhance the efficiency of drinking by the tongue1. The surfaces 30 and 32 as shown in FIG. 8 tend to cause a “funnelingaction” that maintains as much water as possible on the tongue 1 for aslong a period of time as possible.

With reference to FIG. 9, a second embodiment used to practice themethod of the present invention is designated by the reference numeral40 and includes an outer peripheral wall 41 and one internal wall 43defining with the peripheral wall 41 a first sub-chamber 45 and a secondsub-chamber 47 interconnected by a weep hole 49. The sub-chamber 45 ispartially defined by facing elongated walls 51 and 53 having a spacing“a” designed to closely approximate the width of the tongue of an animalthat will be drinking from the sub-chamber 45. The sub-chamber 47consists of a reservoir designed to replenish water into the sub-chamber45 when an animal drinking therefrom reduces the water level. Of course,an animal may also drink from the sub-chamber 47, but without theefficiency that occurs when drinking from the sub-chamber 45. Ifdesired, the sub-chamber 47 may include a cover precluding the animalfrom drinking therefrom. When the sub-chamber 47 is covered, at leastone vent hole is provided in the cover (not shown) to facilitateequalization of levels in the sub-chambers 45 and 47 via the weep hole49.

FIG. 10 shows a yet further embodiment generally designated by thereference numeral 60 and wherein three sub-chambers 61, 63 and 65 areprovided with weep holes 67 and 69 equalizing water levels in the mannerdescribed above. In the container 60, the three sub-chambers have widthsdesigned to facilitate drinking in an efficient manner by animals havingtongues with widths of three distinct different dimensions. Otherwise,the device 60 is similar to the device 10 illustrated in FIGS. 1-6.

A further embodiment is shown with reference to FIG. 11 and isdesignated by the reference numeral 70 and is seen to include a firstsub-chamber 71 and a second sub-chamber 73 interconnected by a weep hole75. The sub-chamber 71 includes inner walls 77 and 79 spaced from oneanother by a distance “a” designed to approximate the width of thetongue of an animal that will be drinking therefrom. As seen withreference to FIG. 12, the sub-chamber 73 is sized to receive an invertedbottle 81 having an inner chamber containing a quantity of water 83 andhaving an open mouth 85. As well understood, with this configuration, asan animal drinks from the sub-chamber 71, water is replenished to thesub-chamber 71 from the sub-chamber 73 via the weep hole 75. As waterflows through the weep hole 75 from the sub-chamber 73, water isreplenished to the sub-chamber 73 from the bottle 81. This configurationpermits an animal to be fed over a significantly more lengthy period oftime, for example, when its owner is away on travel.

In the embodiments of container used to practice the method of thepresent invention, it is preferred that the inventive containers be madeof molded plastic. Of course, other materials may be used to constructthe inventive device such as wood or a variety of metals.

In the method of watering an animal using the embodiments of the presentinvention, any one of the embodiments of the invention is provided andis filled with water or other liquid and made available to one or moreanimal(s). As the animal drinks from each sub-chamber, water level isequalized from adjacent sub-chamber or sub-chambers. Water may bereplenished to the sub-chambers by refilling or through an invertedbottle as shown in FIG. 12 or in any other desired manner.

In the embodiments set forth above, the weep holes interconnectingadjacent chambers have been described as being located in common walls.Alternatively, separate chambers or sub-chambers may be located instand-alone housings with their weep holes interconnected by tubing orpiping.

As such, an invention has been disclosed in terms of preferredembodiments thereof which fulfill each and every one of the objects ofthe invention set forth hereinabove, and provide a new and useful methodof promoting efficient water drinking by animals of great novelty andutility.

Of course, various changes, modifications and alterations in theteachings of the present invention may be contemplated by those ofordinary skill in the art without departing from the intended spirit andscope thereof.

As such, it is intended that the present invention only be limited bythe terms of the appended claims.

1-20. (canceled)
 21. A drinking container for animals, comprising: a) afirst narrow sub-chamber having spaced first and second side walls, saidside walls having upper terminations that are linear and parallel, andsaid first sub-chamber receiving a quantity of liquid, said firstsub-chamber also being defined by end walls shorter in length than saidside walls, said end walls having upper terminations lying in a commonhorizontal plane with said upper terminations of said side walls; b) asecond sub-chamber receiving a quantity of liquid and having one side atleast partially defined by said second side wall, each sub-chamberhaving a floor, said sub-chambers being fluidly interconnected adjacentsaid sub-chamber floors; c) said first and second side walls beingspaced apart by a distance closely corresponding to a width of a tongueof an animal selected to drink from said container, whereby when saidanimal drinks with their tongue in a lapping motion, interaction betweensides of said tongue and said walls results in a greater quantity ofwater remaining on said tongue for a longer period of time during eachlap than would be the case (1) in the absence of said interaction and(2) if said distance did not closely correspond to said width of saidtongue, thereby enhancing efficiency of drinking by said animal.
 22. Thecontainer of claim 21, wherein said first and second sub-chambers arefluidly interconnected by at least one passageway through said secondside wall.
 23. The container of claim 21, wherein each of saidsub-chambers has a set of parallel side walls defining each of saidsub-chambers, each set of parallel walls being equally spaced apart. 24.The container of claim 23, including five sub-chambers, each defined bysets of equally spaced parallel side walls.
 25. The container of claim21, wherein said second sub-chamber comprises a reservoir forreplenishing water drank from said first sub-chamber.
 26. The containerof claim 25, wherein said reservoir subtends a greater volume than saidfirst sub-chamber.
 27. The container of claim 25, wherein said reservoiris sized to receive an inverted bottle containing fluid for replenishingsaid reservoir and sub-chamber.
 28. The container of claim 21, whereinsaid liquid comprises water.
 29. The container of claim 21, wherein saidupper terminations are spaced apart by said distance.
 30. The containerof claim 29, wherein said upper terminations taper toward one another.31. The container of claim 23, further including third, fourth and fifthsub-chambers, all five sub-chambers having a set of parallel walls, eachset of parallel walls being equally spaced apart.
 32. The container ofclaim 21, further including a third sub-chamber, each of saidsub-chambers defined by a set of parallel walls, said sets of wallsbeing spaced apart by respective differing spacings corresponding todiffering widths of tongues of different animals.
 33. The container ofclaim 21, wherein said distance is 1 inch.
 34. The container of claim21, made of molded plastic.
 35. A drinking container for animals,comprising: a) a first narrow sub-chamber having parallel walls andreceiving a quantity of liquid; b) said walls being spaced apart by adistance closely corresponding to a width of a tongue of an animalselected to drink from said container, whereby when said animal drinkswith their tongue in a lapping motion, interaction between sides of saidtongue and said walls results in a greater quantity of water remainingon said tongue for a longer period of time during each lap than would bethe case (1) in the absence of said interaction and (2) if said distancedid not closely correspond to said width of said tongue, therebyenhancing efficiency of drinking by said animal; c) a secondsub-chamber, said sub-chambers having a common wall and being fluidlyinterconnected; d) said second sub-chamber comprising a reservoir forreplenishing water drank from said first sub-chamber.
 36. The containerof claim 35, wherein said reservoir subtends a greater volume than saidfirst sub-chamber.
 37. The container of claim 35, wherein said reservoiris sized to receive an inverted bottle filled with fluid forreplenishing said reservoir and sub-chamber.
 38. The container of claim35, wherein said liquid comprises water.
 39. The container of claim 35,made of molded plastic.
 40. The container of claim 35, wherein saidsub-chambers are fluidly interconnected via a small weep hole throughsaid common wall.